LeBarron picks up top spot

Corning sent its entire squad to the state tournament for the first time in team history and also dominated the postseason honors for the STAC.

Corning was led all season by senior Connor LeBarron, whose 211 average was tops in the area. As the player on the top area team, LeBarron also picks up the honor of being the 2013-14 All-Leader Bowler of the Year.

The All-Leader team, as chosen by Leader staff and area coaches, is presented in alphabetical order.

Donovan Austin-Reed | Corning | Jr.

Austin-Reed helped the Hawks earn a trip to states as a team with his 203.6 average this season. Austin-Reed was also one of three Corning bowlers to earn All-Conference honors in the STAC this season.

"He works hard and does everything that’s expected of him," Corning coach Eric Kizis said. "He’s the most consistent spare bowler on the team and that’s why his scores were so consistent this season."

Austin-Reed rolled from the anchor spot for the Hawks.

"You knew what you were going to get from him every day," Kizis said. "He was a huge asset from the anchor spot."

Nate Beebe | Horseheads | Sr.

Beebe was a senior leader for the Blue Raiders this season.

Rolling leadoff, Beebe led by example, leading Horseheads with a 203.4 average, which earned him All-Conference status in the STAC.

"Nate was the sparkplug for that team," Corning coach Eric Kizis said. "He gave that team energy at leadoff."

Beebe’s coach agreed.

"Nate always motivated the team and kept them focused," Horseheads head coach Steve Micknich said. "He’ll be sorely missed."

Hailey Blencowe | Corning | Sr.

Blencowe saved some of her best bowling for her senior season.

Blencowe led the Hawks with a 190.9 average and picked up STAC All-Conference for her efforts. She also earned a trip to the state tournament with a 1,359 six-game series (696 and 663).

"I can’t say enough good things about Hailey," Corning coach Jami Smith said. "She has great hand-eye coordination and a terrific work ethic. She’s one of the most consistent bowlers on the team."

At states, Blencowe’s best game was a 193.

Julie Collins | Corning | Sr.

In her senior season, Collins knocked an item off her "to-do" list, when she went to the state bowling tournament as an alternate.

"She had that goal and she worked really hard to achieve it," Corning coach Jami Smith said.

Collins also led the list of All-STAC West honorees with her 188.9 average – just two pins shy of All-Conference teammate Hailey Blencowe.

"Julie worked really hard. She’s dedicated," Smith said. "The last couple of years, she’s stepped up and had a big impact on the team."

Temma Comfort | Elmira | Sr.

Comfort was a one-person wrecking crew for the Express this season.

In her senior season, Comfort led the area with a 205.1 average, which earned her All-Conference honors in the STAC.

To put it in perspective, her average would have earned her All-Conference honors on the boys team, as well.

She closed out her final season with a trip to states, where she posted a 179 average as a Section IV All-Star selection.

Ben Hall | Corning | Jr.

Hall averaged 206.3 for the Hawks this season, earning him STAC All-Conference honors. He was one of three Corning bowlers to earn that honor this season.

"Ben is one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever coached," Corning coach Eric Kizis said. "He struggled picking up spares early on, then worked non-stop to fix that part of his game."

He was able to turn a weakness into a strength, according to Kizis.

"It became an asset, because he didn’t have any issues with spares at the end of the season," Kizis said.

Hall’s best game at states was a 213.

Connor LeBarron | Corning | Sr.

LeBarron closed out his high school career by posting the top season by anyone in the STAC West. For the season, LeBarron averaged 211.2 per game – which tied him for top honors in the entire STAC.

Highlighting his stellar season, LeBarron also broke a single-series record, previously owned by Kevin Donovan with an 809. Donovan’s old mark was 803.

"He’s only the second bowler in Corning history to roll an 800 series," Corning coach Eric Kizis said. "That’s remarkable."

According to Kizis, LeBarron was the Hawks’ rock this season.

"Connor matured more than any other kid I’ve coached from one year to the next," Kizis said. "He was always there for the kids. Whenever any of the kids needed anything, he was there. They trusted him."

The Hawks could also trust LeBarron during matches, as well.

"When you needed a big score, Connor was there to do it," Kizis said.

Connor closed his high school career by posting a 180 average at states and rolling his best game of the tournament – a 212 – in his final game.

Ryan Piersimoni | Horseheads | Sr.

Piersimoni closed out his high school career on as big of a high as one can.

"He rolled a perfect 300 game at the state qualifier," Horseheads head coach Steve Micknich said.

That game helped propel Piersimoni into the state tournament as a Section IV All-Star.

Piersimoni also picked up All-STAC-West honors with his 197.4 average this season.

Kayla Warters | Horseheads | Sr.

To garner the kind of praise from Blue Raiders head coach Steve Micknich that Warters did proves the caliber of bowler she was.

"She one of the best female bowlers in the history of the Horseheads bowling program," Micknich said.

In her senior campaign, Warters posted the third-best average in STAC play with a 197. That average helped her earn All-Conference honors for the STAC, this season.